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<h2>Our Mission</h2>

<p>Many low-income regions are home to talented artisans dedicated to perpetuating the lore and techniques of their
ancestors through their craft. However, due to economic incentives to switch to wage labor coupled with a shrinking
market for traditional wear, ornaments and tools, this talent is at risk of disappearing. In regions such as the Yakima
Valley, Native American art is often offered for sale in cultural centers and can
sit unsold for years. In Saltillo, Mexico, complex yarn paintings are being purchased for mere dollars by opportunistic
bulk art dealers and curio shoppers.</p>

<p>Empower Artists provides an alternative marketplace for sellers in low-income regions. This online e-commerce site
is designed to appeal to high-income shoppers both in its familiar layout and in its emphasis on sharing the stories
of artists, their regions and their work. A trust relationship is built between individual artists and art buyers
through local universities who list and mail artwork for the artists and receive payment from consumers. This work
is unique in its use of non-merchant trusted mediators, in the confluence of artwork from multiple regions and in
the emphasis placed on artists' stories. </p>

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